Child Abuse

In 2000, 1,236 children died from abuse in the United States, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Child Welfare League of America. That would average out to at least three children per day. Most children who die are younger than 6 years old. These deaths represent an alarming trend in the abuse of children in the United States. In 1994, there were over 664,000 reports of child abuse/neglect in the State of California. Of those reported, about 90,000 of the children were living in foster care (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau, 1998).

In tracking the incidence and prevalence of child abuse in the United States, the findings of the Third National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS-3) show a sharp increase in the problem. An estimated 1,553,800 children in the United States were abused or neglected in 1993 (National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect):

• The estimated number of sexually abused children rose from 119,200 in 1986 to 217,700 in 1993 (an 83% increase).
• The number of physically neglected children increased from an estimated 167,800 at the time of the NIS-2 to an estimated 338,900 in the NIS-3 (a 102% increase).
• There was a 333% increase in the estimated number of emotionally neglected children, from 49,200 in the NIS-2 to 212,800 in the NIS-3.
• The number of physically abused children was 269,700 at the time of the NIS-2 but increased to 381,700 during the NIS-3 (a 42% increase).

Children of single parents were at higher risk of physical abuse and of all types of neglect and were overrepresented among seriously injured, moderately injured, and endangered children. Compared with their counterparts living with both parents, children in single-parent families showed the following:

• 77% greater risk of being harmed by physical abuse
• 87% greater risk of being harmed by physical neglect
• 74% greater risk of being harmed by emotional neglect
• 220% greater risk of being educationally neglected
• Approximately 80% greater risk of suffering serious injury or harm from abuse or neglect
• Approximately 90% greater risk of receiving moderate injury or harm as a result of child maltreatment
• 120% greater risk of being endangered by some type of child abuse or neglect

According to the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect, children in single-parent households and those living with only their fathers were approximately 1 3/2 times more likely to be physically abused than those living with their mothers only. Family income was significantly related to incidence rates in nearly every category of maltreatment. Compared with children whose families earned $30,000 per year or more, those in families with annual incomes below $15,000 year per showed the following tendencies:

• 22 to 25 times more likely to experience some form of abuse
• More than 44 times more likely to be neglected
• About 12 to 16 times more likely to be victims of physical abuse
• Almost 18 times more likely to be sexually abused
• 13 to 18 times more likely to be emotionally abused
• 40 to 48 times more likely to experience physical neglect
• 27 to 29 times more likely to be emotionally neglected
• Nearly 56 times more likely to be educationally neglected
• 22 to 60 times more likely to die from maltreatment of some type
• More than 22 times more likely to be seriously injured by maltreatment
• About 18 to 20 times more likely to be moderately injured by abuse or neglect
• 39 to 57 times more likely to be classified as having inferred injuries
• More than 31 times more likely to be considered endangered, although not yet injured, by some type of abusive or neglectful treatment

The study also found that children were more often neglected by female perpetrators (87% by females versus 43% by males). This is explained by the fact that mothers and mother-substitutes tend to be the primary caretakers and are the primary persons held accountable for any omissions or failings in caretaking. In contrast, children were more often abused by males (67% were abused by males versus 40% by females). The prevalence of male perpetrators was greatest in the category of sexual abuse, in which 89% [Page 73]of the children were abused by males compared with only 12% by females.

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